Rail brace



7 Oct. 13, 1936.

W. T. O NEILL RAIL BRACE Filed July 25 1932 4 sheets-sheet 1 attorneg s w. T O'NEILL- Oct. 13, 1936.

RAIL BRACE Filed July 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 3nventor" W/AZ/AM I 0'11/5/44 attorneys Patented Oct. 13, 1936 pairs!) STATES PATENT OFFI CE RAIL BRACE Application July 25,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of supporting main and/or guard rails of railroads. More particularly it relates to devices of new and improved construction and advantages for affording lateral support tomain or guard rails.

Heretofore many attempts have been made to provide lateral supports or braces for railroad rails. Such supports are necessities on switches and are almost, if not quite, as necessary on curve guard rails. Because of the absolute necessity to have supports at switches and frogguards, devices have been developed which are now in use. Such devices are suited only to switch and frog-guarding, are not easily adjustable and are so expensive as to be prohibitive for curve guard purposes. Efforts to provide curve guards have taken two general forms. One form is an integral one-piece device comprising a tie plate part and a brace part. The other form is a multiple device comprising a tie plate, and a brace with or without one or more other parts such as wedges and the like, the several parts being held in assembled position by means such as bolts, spikes and the like.

The disadvantages of the former one-piece device are obvious. If formed by casting, the device is only so strong as the thinnest parts of the casting and its strength may be dangerously low from a safety standpoint. If formed by forging, the strength factor will be higher but the cost is greatly increased and only a few designs can be used because of the limited shapes which can be forged.

The multiple part device, while adaptable to a variety of designs, and cheaper than the forged unitary device, is no stronger than the means such as bolts, spikes and the like which hold the several parts in assembled relation. While such devices may withstand forces up to a certain magnitude, the bolts, spikes and the like tend to fiex under larger forces where strength and rigidity is highly important, or are made so bulky and cumbersome to overcome this tendency to fiex that they are unsuited for general use.

By the present invention guards have been provided which are suitable alike for switch frog and curve rail uses,-which are low enough in cost to be used on all curves where safety makes their use desirable, which may be made in practically any desired design and which will remain rigid under much greater loads than cause deflection of the parts of the multi-part prior devices.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in 1932, Serial No. 624,393

section, of a device embodying the principles of my invention, as applied to a main rail.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation and partly in section, of a device embodying the present invention as applied to a main and a guard rail.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a View in end elevation, partly in section, of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation partly in section illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the tie plate illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, illustrating another modified form of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a top plan View, broken away, of the device of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detailed view in side elevation, partly in section, illustrating still another modification of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the device of Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 and 12 are views in end elevation and bottom plan respectively of one section of the brace of Fig. 9.

In Figs. 1, 3 and 4 is shown an embodiment of the invention for use in properly supporting a main rail against the lateral strains imposed there-on, which occur especially when cars are passing around a curve. As shown in these fig.- ures, a main rail I rests upon a tie plate 2 and may be secured thereon in the usual manner by spikes or bolts. A shoulder 3 is formed on the tie plate 2 against which the base of the rail may abut in order properly to position and maintain the base of the rail against lateral bodily movement. The brace d is provided with a shoulder 5, the face of which abuts against the side of the rail web, and, to some extent, against the lower surface of the head of the rail. The base 6 of the brace 4 rests upon the tie plate 2 and is beveled as at 6'. The brace 4 and the plate 2 may be made of steel of different grades and may be castings, forgings and the like.

In order to secure the brace Al to the tie plate 2 a most secure union may be obtained with a minimum of expense in manufacture by uniting the two by welding. The brace and tie plate may be welded along their fiat interfaces, with or without welding projections of one of these members in place in recesses in the other. As seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the inner end and opposite side edges of the base 6 of the brace 4 are beveled at 6 to provide space for weld metal, portions of which are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. By welding the base of the brace 4 to the tie plate 2 in :this manner'an extremely strong and rigid construction is obtained. It is preferred, however, to form an aperture in one of the members to receive a'projection on the otherv and to weld the members together in the aperture with or without welding elsewhere. As shown, an aperture I extends completely through the plate and receives the projection 8 on the brace. This projection is preferably tapered or beveled as at 8, to facilitate assembly and to provide a space between the faces of the projection 8 and the walls of the aperture 1 which is filled withmetal as indicated at 9 in Fig. 4 during the welding operation, which metal securely unites the brace 4 to theplate 2. One or more of such welded joints between the brace and plate may be provided. In'order that the plate be not materially weakened by the aperture 'I,.the latter is located at a short distance from the rail I. The rail I 7 may either be a main rail ora guard rail; This device provides ample lateral support for a rail, is'simple and inexpensive in its construction and application and makes possible the use of very strong parts and strong junctions therebetween without introducing any incident weaknesses.

'Fig. 2 illustrates another form of the invention in which the rail construction comprises a main rail I 0 and a guard rail II, both of which rest upon the tie plate I2.' Suitable spikes or bolts a H are spaced so that the flange I3 of the car wheel I4 may ride between the heads of the rails I0 and II while the'tread of the wheel I4 rides on the top surface of the rail Ill. The space between the heads of rails I0 and II is such that the flange I3 of the wheel will strike against the head of rail II while the tread of the wheel I4 remains upon the rail I0. Thus the guard rail I I serves to prevent the wheels I4 from departing from the main rail ID. The force applied upon the rail I I. is a lateral one tending to slide or to overturn it. Therefore, lateral support is necessary for the guard rail I I, and the brace 4 is provided which is constructed, mounted and arranged relative to the rail I I and tie plate I 2 in the same manner that the brace 4 is constructed, arranged and mounted relative to the rail I and tie plate 2 in Fig. l. The rail II may be reduced in width across the base thereof as indicated at I 5 in order to accommodate'the base of the 'rail I0, as'desired. A shoulder I6 may be provided on the tie'plate I2 in order to determine the position of the main rail II). In order to maintain the rails in proper spaced relation and in order that the brace 4 may aiford lateral support for both rails, an insert I! is arranged between the rails I 0 and I I. The insert I1 is comprised of halves I8 and I9 provided with interfltting projections '20 and 2I which, when the halves I8 and I9 are assembled in place, prevent lateral displacement of the halves I8 and I9 relative to one another. The

insert I! affords faces 22 and 23 which abut.

against the adjacent faces of the rail Webs, bases and heads so that adequate lateral support is provided for those rails. The inter-faces between the halves I8 and I9 are conveniently arranged substantially parallel to the webs of the lateral force will be substantially normal to the inter-faces between the halves. The brace 4, acting through the rail II and insert II affords lateral support for the rail H1. The shoulder I6 together with the brace 4 and insert I! maintain the rails I0 and II in fixed position.

Thus a form of rail construction has been provided which affords adequate lateral support for both the main rail and the guard rail and maintains the rails in fixed spaced relation. The construction is such as to be readily and economically manufactured, conveniently and inexpensively assembled and is satisfactory and reliable in use. A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. As illustrated in Fig. 5, a main rail 30 rests upon and is secured, in a conventional manner, to the tie plate 3I which may have a shoulder 32 formed thereon against which the base of the rail 30 may abut. The guard rail 33 may be of special construction having a large head 34 and reduced base 35 joined by web 36, of more or less conventional size and shape. The guard rail 33 is sup-ported in a brace or chair 31 provided I with a shoulder 38, the faces of which abut against theside of the web 36 and the lower surface of the head 34. The brace or chair 3'! is provided with aledge 39 upon which the base 35 of the rail 33 seats. The brace or chair 31 may have an upstanding boss 40 against the vertical wall of which the base 35 of the rail 33 may abut. The brace or chair 3'! has the bottom flat surface M which rests upon the flat surface of the tie plate 3 I. The brace 31 may be secured to the tie plate by any suitable form of weld, for example, as by filling the space formed by the top of the tie plate 3I and the inwardly beveled opposite side edges H of the chair 31 with' weld metal. These opposite sides edges 4 I correspond to the side surfaces 6 of Figs. 1 and 4. Conveniently the brace 31 is provided with a projection or lug 42 which is tapered similarly to the manner in which lug 8 is tapered. The projection 42 extends into the aperture 43 formed in the tie plate 3I and the brace 31 and tie plate 3I are united by welding the projection '42 to the tie plate 3| within the aperture 43. One

or more lugs 42 and apertures 43 may be provided 7 for joining the chair and tie plate together by welding.

Thus a convenient practical form of construction for affording lateral support to a guard rail has been provided.

Fig. 6 illustrates a tie plate of the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 showing a convenient spac ing of apertures to receive the lug 42 as well as spikes or screws for fastening the rail and tie plate to the tie.

The invention so far described has been characterized by the use of a brace made in a single piece. instances be desirable to provide a one piece brace it is also practicable and may, in many other instances, be desirable to employ a sectional brace made of two or more parts. The invention as illustrated in Figs. '7 to 12 inclusive, is characterized by the use of a sectional brace made in two sections although the invention in its broadest aspects is not limited to any particular number of sections in a sectional brace.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, this invention is practiced by affording support to a guard rail 44, uniformly spaced from a main rail 45, both of the rails being secured to the tie plate 46 by spikes or screws as is the usual practice. An abutment 4! may be formed integrally with the tie plate 46 to position and support the rail 45 thereon. '75.

While it is practicable and may in some 7 The guard rail 44 may be cut away along the base thereof as indicated at 48 in order to be free of the main rail 45.

In order to afford lateral support for the guard rail 44, a brace 49 is provided. In order to support the rail 44 the section 56 of brace 49 abuts against the rail 44 along the web and at the bottom surface of the head, as indicated at 5|, of that rail. The section 50 rests, as indicated at 52, on the base of the rai144. In order to transmit the stress imposed upon the section 56 by the rail 44, the section 59 is arranged to engage with a section 53, the lateral faces 54 of which are preferably substantially vertically disposed, the sections 56 and 53 interfitting along a substantially horizontal face 55. The section 53 may be secured to the tie plate 46 by welding the interface 56 along the opposite side and inner end edges of the base of section, 53 and between the projection 51, integrally formed upon the section 53, and the walls of recess 58 formed in the tie plate 46 into which the projection 51 extends. It will be noted that the side and inner end edges of the base of section 53 are preferably beveled, as shown in Fig. '7, to facilitate the welding operation and to provide space for the deposition of weld metal 5641 at the inner end of the base and 56b along the opposite sides of the base, in manner similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The metal 59 introduced during welding unites the projection 57 to the tie plate 46.

It will be observed that the construction and arrangement of the sections 56 and 53 of the brace 49 is such that the section 56 is maintained in place by engagement with the surfaces of the rail 44 and the surfaces of the brace 53 against which the section 59 abuts. Thus the section 56 floats between the rail 44 and the section 53 while remaining in place and affording support to the rail 44. Such a mounting for the section 59 permits the same readily to be adjusted by the insertion of shims between any of the various complementary surfaces so as better to conform to the relative positions of the rail 44 in the section 53. Also movement of the rail 44 under the action of stresses imposed thereon or relative movements of the various parts of the rail structure brought about by temperature changes may take place and the floating section 58 will accommodate itself to such movements, within certain limits, thus avoiding the imposition of undue strains upon the rail structure. More especially the floating section 59 adjusts itself to relative movement of parts of the rail structure so that, while it affords lateral support to the rail 44 at all times, it freely follows other strains imposed upon the rail structure and is not stressed by forces which it was not intended to restrain.

The brace 49 is restrained against such transverse movement in a direction parallel to the length of the rails as would separate the sections 56 and 53. The section 59 is provided with the upturned lug 69 adapted to abut against the overhanging projection 6! on the section 53 while, at the other side of the brace 49, the section 50 is provided with the wing 62 apertured, as indicated at 63, to receive a cotter 64 thus preventing any substantial relative tramsverse movement between the sections 59 and 53. Obviously other constructions may be provided for preventing the separation of the sections 49 and 53 by transverse movement thereof.

The brace construction illustrated in Figs. 7

and 8 may be employed with a main rail as well as a guard rail construction. Also suitable inserts may be arranged between the guard and main rail 44 and 45, suitable inserts for that purpose being illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, the main rail 65 is supported upon a tie plate 66', which may have an abutment 61 for the base of the rail 65. *Lateral support of the rail 65 is afforded by the brace 68 composed of sections 69 and 16. Section 69 engages the rail 65 at the web thereof as indicated at, l l. The section 69 may clear the base of the rail 65 as indicated at 12 in order that the brace may not be strained unnecessarily by forces which it was not designed to restrain. The section 69 has the lateral face 13 and hori'zontally extending surface 14 complemental to and adapted to engage with corresponding faces on the section 19. Stresses imposed upon the section 69 and rail 65 are transmitted to the section til at the interfaces 13 and 14. The section 70 may be secured to the tie plate 66 by welding along the inter-face 15 as shown at 150. and 15b,

and/ or welding the lugs 16, integral with the section ID, to the tie plate 66 within the recesses 11 formed in the tie plate 66. Metal 18, introduced during welding, unites the lugs 16 and the tie plate 66. The section 69 may be cut away slightly as indicated at 19 to prevent the sections 69 and 16 from engaging with a rocking contact at the corners of the surfaces 13 and 14.

The section 19 may be recessed and slotted to receive a clamping means for uniting the sections 69 and 10. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the section 19 may be recessed and slotted as indicated at 89 and 8| to receive the head and shank of a bolt 82, which may serve as the clamping means.

and 19 may be secured together in rail supporting position.

By making the brace 68 and also the brace 49 in two or more sections, convenience of assembly and service of the brace is attained. The I tie plate engaging section may be welded in place during manufacturing and the rail engaging section may be inserted in place during assembly of the rail structure at location. Also the tie plate engaging section may be made of a single standard size to be used with variously sized rail engaging sections so as to adapt the braceto use with rails of various sections and of various weights. Furthermore, by making the brace in a plurality of sections, those sections may be designed so that either or both may be amenable to forging methods whereas it may be practicable only to form single piece braces by casting methods. The multiple construction of the brace permits the use of shims between the parts of the brace thereby facilitating assembly of the rail structure and permitting adjustment of the braces from time to time to take up wear and to accommodate other slight dislocations of the rail structure. Thus, in rail structures em- The lugs 16 project downwardly from the side walls defining the recess 86.

shear.

ploying the guard rail, wear upon the guard rail enlarging the space between the main and guard rail beyond desired limits may be com pensated for by introducing shims between the sections of the brace. Furthermore, by providing a multiple section brace construction, it 'is possible tomake the sections of different steels and by different methods in order, better to adapt the brace as-a whole to the functions it is the tie plate. It is intended to include within the purview of this invention the features and advantages of a multiple section brace irrespective of the type of union between brace and the tie plate.

It will be noted that in each illustrated form of the invention the bracing means is wide in the direction of the long axis of the rail and that the weld metal is positioned on the tension side of the bracing means in each instance. 'The projection which extends from the bracing means into the opening in the plate is also located on the tension side of the bracing means and is spaced a considerable distance from the longitudinal side edges of the latter. When the bracing means is welded to the plate by weld metal along the side, across the end adjacent to the rail and around the projection in the opening all this weld metal is positioned to absorb the tensional components of the lateral thrust forces delivered to the rail by a car wheel. Thus the weld metal in these various places is capable of absorbing much of such tensional component forces and thereby greatly strengthening the device.

The weld metal is very strong in tension and Yet it unites the bracing means and plate in such a manner as to prevent all play or movement between the bracing means and the plate. No play can develop in use because of the high tensional strength of the weld metal. 'In contrast therewith, when bolts or rivets are used there is ordinarily a small amount of initial play and this increases in proportion to the extent of stretching of the bolts or rivets and the battering of threads or heads so that constant attention is required to prevent failure of the device. Such attention is avoided by the present invention which as just described prevents all play.

Moreover the width of the bracing means permits the formation of Welds along opposite sides of the bracing means as well as around the projection while preventing harmful growth of grains in the plate metal adjacent to a weld by conduction of heat from another point where a weld is being made. In other words, referring to Figure 3 for example, a weld may be made along one side of the bracing means 4 either before or after the projection 8 is welded to 'the side walls of opening 1 and the heat which can be conducted from one of these welds to the other will not be enough to promote harmful grain growth in the metal of the plate adjacent to the first formed weld. By reason of this use of wide bracing means all weakening of the plate due to grain growth is avoidedand the device possesses the strength of the component parts plus that of the sever-a1 welds.

While certain forms of the invention have been described by way of illustration it is not intended so to limit the invention inasmuch as.

opening, and Weld metal extending along said projection for a major part of its length in said, opening and uniting the projection'to the walls of the opening.

2. A rail brace comprising a tie plate having an opening therethrough disposed adjacent to the rail-engaging surface of the plate, rail-abutting bracing means on the plate having a pro-.

jection on the tension side extending into and united by weld metal to the walls of said opening, said Weld metal extending in the opening for a major part of the length of the projection, and weld metal uniting the sides of the bracing means to the plate.

3. A rail brace comprising a tie plate having an opening therethrough disposedadjacent to the rail-engaging surface of the plate, rail-abutting bracing means on the plate having a projection on the tension side disposed but spaced apart from the walls of, said opening, and weld metal surrounding and uniting the projection to the walls of the opening throughout substantially the full length of the projection in the opening.

4. A rail brace comprising a tie plate having an opening disposed adjacent to the rail-engaging surface of the plate, wide rail-abutting bracing means on the plate and having a projection on the tension side thereof extending into said opening and weld metal uniting the sides of the bracing means to the plate and weld metal uniting the projection to the walls of the opening throughout the major part of the thickness .of the plate, the said projection being narrow WILLIAM T. ONEILL. 

